2133 S. Halsted St., Pilsen
Nightwood and Skylark have a new neighbor on this happening Pilsen block. Everado Garcia, whose family owns F & R Liquors next door, is behind this sit-down restaurant and tequila bar. The food menu leans on the traditional taco recipes (carne asada, carnitas and barbacoa) of Garcia's mother Rose, while tequila stars in simple margaritas and palomas served neat in snifters for sippers of higher-end varieties. READ MORE
939 W. 18th St., Pilsen
"I used to make tamales all the time with my abuela," said Jeni Wahl, who owns Off The Couch Catering with her husband Sam Wahl and executive chef Keith Carlson. When the trio found this kitchen space in Pilsen, they decided to run their catering company out of the back and a grab-and-go tamale station in the front. Some tamales are inspired by traditional Mexican flavors or Jeni's Cuban-American heritage (such as spicy black bean and corn or slow-roasted Cuban pork) while others feature ingredients you'd never expect to find wrapped up in a corn husk, such as cheeseburger and buffalo chicken with blue cheese dressing. All are $3 a pop.READ MORE
1438 W. Chicago Ave., Ukrainian Village
Like its sister restaurant Chilam Balam, this small-plates newcomer Shaman serves Mexican small plates, allow BYO, and accept only cash. Unlike its older sibling, Shaman will take reservations, have more seats (65--Chilam has 45), and offer outdoor dining in the summer. Chef Natalie Oswald says that a few Lakeview dishes will make the trip to Ukrainian Village, such as the guacamole and the ceviche. New menu items, such as a butternut squash tamal with pecan mole and cranberry sauce, as well as pan-seared quail with bacon-morita chile broth, spaghetti squash, and green grape pico de gallo. Varieties of sopes and flautas will change periodically, as will the accompaniment to the gingerbread on the dessert menu.READ MORE
2528 S. Kedzie Ave., Little Village
Join the fiesta at this Little Village favorite. READ MORE
865 W. Randolph St., West Town
Mexican fare such as burritos and tacos along with more upscale entree offerings. READ MORE
1116 Madison St., Oak Park
New Rebozo closed for remodeling in late winter 2008, but has reopened with a fresh new look. The menu is inspired by the cooking of owner Francisco Lopez's mother. Orders may take a while to emerge from the kitchen, but the food is worth the wait. Best bets: tortilla soup, mole dishes and enchilada Pancho Villa. Twelve family recipes of moles are available. READ MORE
6922 N. Clark St., Rogers Park
This BYOB seafood spot in Rogers Park is known for its fresh Campechana cocktail (shimp, crab, octopus and oysters in a tomato-based sauce), fish and shrimp tacos, and hearty sopa de siete mares, teeming with shellfish, octopus and catfish. READ MORE
3166 N. Clark St., Lake View
This Lakeview Mexican restaurant that claims to serve the "Killer Margarita" is family owned and operated and located mere steps from Belmont and Boystown. Sip on a "Killer" and munch on chips n' salsa at the bar or grab a table and order from the menu of mostly traditional mexican fare. House specials include the Cesar's torta (mexican sandwich filled with chicken, steak or veggies), veggie fajitas and Cesar's very own tacos. READ MORE
3361 N. Elston Ave., Avondale
This quaint, family-owned Mexican spot in Avondale is about as authentic as it gets. "Most of our customers are referrals," says Joel Iniquez, whose parents, Elisa and Roman, have been the owners and chefs since 1991. "We are always busy." The menu's traditional, but not boring. Carnivores can't say no to the Parilla al Patron, a two-person portion of short ribs, steak, chicken, and chorizo served on a tabletop grill that continues to sizzle while you eat. Service can be a bit slow, but no worries: Sip a made-to-order cazuela while you wait. This freshly squeezed citrus-and-tequila cocktail even comes in its own clay bowl. READ MORE
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wicker Park
Should you expect to only drink tequila at Salud, a lounge that specializes in pure agave tequilas? Of course not, in the same way that folks don't only gulp canned beer at Cans, another Wicker Park bar from the same owners. If you embrace the theme, however, you'll have about 85 different tequilas to choose from, available straight, in a 2-ounce pour; in flights; or in the house margarita, the Tequila Mockingbird. This spot took over the original Holiday Club (the Holiday Club in Uptown is still going strong), and sports low-slung couches, a stucco interior and a metal tree sculpture framed by tequila bottles. Their menu complements a night of drinking with ceviche, mango scallops and a tequila cheeseburger. READ MORE
814 W. Randolph St., West Town
Co-owners Angela Lee and Susan Traina Thompson, who also own Sushi Wabi, created this urban-meets-rustic Mexican taqueria, with high-backed wooden chairs, aged-looking wooden tabletops, and perky Latin beats. The menu features innovative coastal Mexican cuisine with a focus on fresh ingredients. Appetizer choices include cumin-rubbed ribeye skewers with avocado crema and smoky tomato salsa; and charred baby octopus with lime-cumin dressing and tomato. There are 15 tacos on the menu, including innovated choices like battered shrimp with avocado cream, and grilled tuna with mango and habanero sauce. Tacos can be ordered individually, or opt for the make-your-own combo platter of eight. Entrees feature a skirt steak marinated in pickled jalapenos, cumin and garlic, and a tequila-marinated pork chop. Try the Jarritos float, made with the popular Mexican soft drink and house-made sorbet for an off-the-beaten path dessert. The specialty cocktail list offers herb and fruit concoctions like the banana-dill daiquiri and the strawberry-mint margarita. The frozen drinks take about seven minutes to prepare; if you are really thirsty opt for a non-frozen beverage. READ MORE
111 N. State St., The Loop
Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill/Topolobampo) is behind this quick-serve Mex spot in the Macy's on State Street (in the food court on the seventh floor). The menu features high-end tortas, huaraches (open-fried stuffed masa), quesadillas and limeades in flavors like mango-lime and raspberry-prickly pear. The kiosk also stocks Frontera products like hot sauce, salsa, guacamole mix and organic tortilla chips. READ MORE
1706 W. Foster Ave., Ravenswood
This Mexican BYOB in Andersonville is not your run-of-the-mill taqueria. The proof is in the sauce. The kitchen artfully constructs three kinds of signature salsa, ranging from tangy mild tomato to fiery jalapeno-tomatillo. Then there's the mole. Cosina offers a few kinds, but the standout is mole dona esperanza–that's the dark one. The exotic flavor is result of 19 ingredients and at least three days of preparation. It's served atop everything from carne asada to pork to enchiladas. If you're not in the mood for mole, other favorites include parrillada (mixed grill) with sizzling shrimp, chicken, pork, a variety of vegetables and cheese. The mid-sized dining room is casual and cheery, accented with bright colors and Mexican folk art. READ MORE
